For all those who count on their daily glass of wine for a healthy heart, there’s a caveat. Drinking too much or too often can cause irreparable damage to various body organs and the brain. It could set off an addiction cycle that is hard to defeat and become the cause of despair, destruction and untimely death.

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How Mindfulness Prevents Heavy Drinking
For all those who count on their daily glass of wine for a healthy heart, there’s a caveat.
Drinking too much or too often can cause irreparable damage to various body organs and the
brain. It could set off an addiction cycle that is hard to defeat and become the cause of
despair, destruction and untimely death.
As there is a thin line separating heavy drinking from chronic alcoholism, it is necessary to be
aware of safe drinking practices, such as being mindful when one drinks. In a study conducted
at the University College London, it was found that when one paid heed to the inner voice
(mindfulness), the chances of one succumbing to excessive drinking were relatively less. It
was also noticed that people who practiced relaxation exercises were also less likely to give
in to their cravings.
Art of mindful drinking
There are many who
have advocated
moderation and
mindfulness as
effective ways of
responsible drinking.
As Carrie Wilkens,
cofounder and clinical
director of the Center
for Motivation and
Change in New York
City, says, “It’s not
unreasonable to have
alcohol as a part of
your life, as long as you
are able to assess whether or not you are relying on it too much.” Drinking conscientiously is
a way of knowing one’s limits and reminding oneself to stop. One can have his cake and eat
it too, if he/she follows certain rules as given below:
Being mindful about the time of drinking: It is extremely important that one is careful of the
time one drinks. If one needs a drink the first thing on waking up, it could spell a drinking
problem. If someone follows the footsteps of Don Draper from the Mad Men series and drinks
at work, it may result in loss of productivity and eventually, the job.
Being mindful who you drink with: For most adults, drinking in the company of loved ones is
more of a fun activity and stress buster. However, as the popular adage goes, a man is known
by the company he keeps, it also applies to drinking buddies. If the accompanists drink
responsibly, then the likelihood of risky drinking behavior is relatively less.

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Living without alcohol for a week: One of the tricks for keeping the alcohol habit in check is
going off the drinks for a week or more. In her book The Happiness Project, author Gretchen
Rubin mentioned that when she took stock of her drinking habits, she found that it no longer
made her the jolly old fellow she once was. Prolonged drinking affects one’s reasoning
abilities but abstinence or short breaks help them reconnect to their old selves.
Avoiding alcohol when depressed: One of the golden rules for sensible drinking is never to
drink when one is depressed or feeling low. It is easier during such times to gulp down one
drink after another as one quickly forgets the count. While the first drink feels like the elixir
of life, a few drinks are enough to increase the blood alcohol content (BAC), decrease the
heartbeat and impair cognitive functioning. It can also result in acute hangover symptoms and
in some cases, alcohol poisoning.
Counting the pints: The body’s ability to metabolize alcohol depends on gender, age and
related factors. However, standards have been set to prevent the average American citizen
from going overboard. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture, a
moderate drink can be defined as up to two drinks a day for adult men and one drink a day
for adult women. One drink equals to one 12-ounce bottle of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5
ounces of 80-proof, distilled spirits. Consumption beyond these standards constitutes heavy
or risky drinking.
A moment of reckless drinking can turn disastrous any time. It is, therefore, advisable to go
light on its use and let other healthy practices rule over life.
Road to sobriety
Drinking habit steadily takes control over the life of a person and is responsible for strained
relationships, unemployment, homelessness, unintentional injuries and crime. In extreme
conditions, it is also responsible for co-occurrence of mental disorders, such as depression
and anxiety, and early mortality.
If you know someone addicted to alcohol, the Alcohol Addiction Get Help experts can assist
you in accessing one of the finest alcohol addiction treatment centers in Texas that specialize
in delivering evidence-based intervention plans. Call our 24/7 helpline 866-281-3014 to know
more.